Contents

Biography

Francis and his brothers grew up in an Irish Catholic home. He is looked down upon by his brothers, who consider him a hypocrite for his police career; Patrick McReary remarks that "[Francis is] just as crooked as we are — moreso"; Francis affords his brothers similar disdain for their open criminality. He initially wanted to become a priest, but as his brother Patrick recalls, he had to abandon that ambition after being caught cheating on his final test to be a priest; he also had a selfish tendency to take money from the donation plate as an altar boy. Then at some point before 2008, he joined the Liberty City Police Department, later becoming a Deputy Commissioner.

Francis tells Niko that his philosophy to cleaning up the streets of Liberty City is "one percent at a time" — assassinate small-time crooks and drug dealers one by one, to "improve" the city without involving the legal system. This may be mere self-justification on Francis' part — the tasks he sets for Niko are overwhelmingly focused on covering up his own misdeeds. Francis is implied to have illicit tastes, which go unspecified but which may be related to drugs and/or prostitution, as he orders the assassination of a drug-dealing pimp who is implied to be personally inconveniencing him.

It seems he has the same philosophy as Frank Tenpenny, thinking if a necessary number of people do like him, the community would improve.

Events of Grand Theft Auto IV

Francis first meets Niko Bellic during a publicity spot with Manny Escuela. Later in the game, he calls Niko and arranges a meeting at Castle Gardens, where he reveals that he knows of Niko's criminal activity in Liberty City; Niko agrees to work for Francis in exchange for his turning a blind eye to Niko's other crimes.

Blood Brothers

After Francis' brother Derrick returns from Ireland, Derrick intends to expose Francis' corruption out of spite, something Francis could not accept as he intends to become the Commissioner of the LCPD. He orders Niko to kill Derrick during a meeting he has arranged with his brother. Niko either chooses to follow Francis' orders, or goes against them and spares Derrick's life by killing Francis instead. Either choice will end Niko's career with Francis, although Niko can choose to exploit Francis' guilt in future if he survives.

Mission appearances

Wanted level reduction

If Francis is spared in Blood Brothers, the player can call him and have him clear their Wanted level. Although this can be done multiple times, the wait required between calls is thus far undetermined — calling too soon after the last successful call will merely redirect to Francis' answering machine. Note: there is a short interval between the call being made and the wanted level being reduced - the player must be careful not to allow Niko to be arrested or wasted during the wait.

Once the player finishes the story missions, Francis' ability will not be available. Although after you have finished the main storyline, you can receive the three-star removal, by dating Kiki Jenkins, once you have her up to about 80%.

Trivia

The picture of Francis McReary with a group of police officers on the LCPD website.

If Niko kills Francis, his gravestone in Colony Island (after the mission Undertaker) reads: "Here Lies Francis McReary, Brave, Honest, Shot Dead", the same as Derrick's in Steinway, if the player chooses to kill Derrick.

Francis drives a black Landstalker, seen in the beginning cutscene of Blood Brothers.

As Francis is an LCPD officer, his record is not listed in the LCPD Database.

In the mission I'll Take HerGerald McReary says that he and Francis were never real close, but that "he'll miss him" (if Francis is dead).

Sometimes if Niko starts getting chased by police with Packie, he will often shout "Look! Frankie's Boys!".